Stramaccioni: Dybala still ‘more influential’ than Nico Paz ahead of Como vs. Roma
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 10: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Fenerbahce SK and AS Roma at Fenerbahce Sükrü Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi on September 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Former Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni feels Paulo Dybala is ‘slightly more influential’ for Roma than Nico Paz is for Como and predicts that the team that will ‘impose their own tempo’ will win at the Stadio Sinigaglia on Sunday.
Serie A resumes this weekend with Sunday’s clash between Como and Roma as the big match of Round 6.
Como lost their most recent game before the break, while Roma squandered a two-goal lead against defending champions Inter, settling for a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Giallorossi remain at the top of the table, level on 13 points with the Nerazzurri and Lazio, while Como have grabbed 10 points so far.
“Como under Fàbregas have often been defined by their ability to dominate games, control possession, circulate the ball horizontally and patiently look for openings to exploit with quality in the final 20 meters,” ex-Inter coach Stramaccioni told Gazzetta.
Stramaccioni: Dybala ‘a game-changing player’
“On Sunday, they will come up against the pressing, speed and vertical intensity of Gasperini’s football. They are two models to be admired. The key will be which team disrupts more of the opponent’s established patterns. Which means preventing them from playing the way they want and imposing their own tempo.
“Rather than focusing on wingers, I’d talk about how the teams will attack down the flanks and get to the byline, especially in a match where breaking through the middle won’t be easy,” Stramaccioni continued.
“Aside from their wing-backs, Roma only have Soulé who is truly comfortable receiving the ball out wide, whereas Como have several skillful players who like to play wide. The ability to break through down the flanks will be one of the keys to the match.”
Sunday’s clash will also put Argentine stars Dybala and Nico Paz against each other. Paz was in the Argentina squad during the three-week international break, while Dybala wasn’t included and remained in Trigoria to train with the Giallorossi.
“They are two players who make anyone who loves this game fall in love with football,” Stramaccioni said.
“They are obviously at different stages of their careers and also have different characteristics. Paulo has won everything; he is a game-changing player and operates more as a second striker.
“Nico, meanwhile, is a prodigious talent and more of a No.10 who can also drop deeper or start from a position out wide on the right. At the moment, however, Paulo is slightly more influential for Roma than Nico is for Como.”
Martin Baturina and Assane Diao will also be among the players to watch, with both capable of posing a serious threat to Roma. So how can the Giallorossi stop them?
“By trying to keep them with their backs to goal. They are two different kinds of talents, but they have one thing in common: they are extremely dangerous when facing goal,” Strama replied.
“I’m certain Roma will focus on aggression and concentration to make it difficult for them to receive the ball cleanly, rather than on containing them in one-on-one situations.”
Como center-backs, on the other hand, will have to nullify Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Not an easy task.
“I don’t see it as an individual duel. Against the Malen-Dybala partnership, I expect a collective defensive approach: aggressive marking and space coverage, carried out by the entire defensive unit and the central midfielders,” noted Stramaccioni.
“Como will use man-oriented zonal marking against them.”
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